What church was jesus talking about?

Question

I'm curious. Jesus told Peter that upon this rock he will build his church. Church of Christ definitely believes that the rock belongs to them. I don't think so. I think that is a body of believers. Not necessary just the title. I don't mean to pick on the Church of Christ but the majority of the members will try to say that and they have no evidence of...

Answer 1

Peter is without a doubt the rock. The word used in Aramaic, the language that Jesus spoke, is Kepha for both Peter and the rock where Christ will build his church, so he's definitely saying that Peter is the rock. In the Greek two different words are used for Peter and the rock (Petros and Petra) but this is because Peter is masculine so the word has to change its form to Petros. A few verses later, Jesus gives Peter the keys to the kingdom of Heaven, further supporting the idea that Peter was the rock for Christ's church.

The Catholic Church claims that Peter was the first Pope, so since he is also the rock, the verse is referring to what would later be the Catholic Church.

Answer 2

Jesus is the rock that the church was built upon. The church he spoke of was the first century church, which was born on the day of Pentecost, in the upper room. Anyone who lives their life as the apostles and the other members of that first century church lived, is a part of the church that Jesus spoke of. People who live as the apostles did are usually called Apostolic.

Answer 3

the Church which Jesus Christ refering when he was talking to Peter is the Church headed by Jesus

Colossians 1:18

And HE IS THE HEAD OF THE BODY, THE CHURCH: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

and what is the church headed by Christ? the church which called the House of God

Hebrews 3:6

But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.



what is the house of God?

I Timothy 3:15

But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD the pillar and ground of the truth.

Answer 4

It's the universal church composed of believers and followers of Jesus Christ, both dead and alive, since Pentecost until now.

Answer 5

It was the Apostolic Church.The church that Jesus built.He then told his Apostles to go preach to the world.I was raised Church Of Christ, I understand what you mean.I'm Apostolic now. They all nearly dropped dead and rolled over in their graves @ the same time!

Answer 6

From the first chapter of Acts, we know that the Apostles had successors. Who today claims to be the current successor of Peter?

Answer 7

Well, one thing we know is that the rock can't be Peter. Peter is masculine and the word used for rock is feminine.

Answer 8

Q. Does the church of Christ consider itself "the ONLY church"? Do you really believe that you are the ONLY one's going to heaven?



Let's examine some areas in which the church "is not the only one."



1) We are not the only ones who respect the Bible as God's Book. It is true that many do not believe the Bible is inspired. They reject the Creation story and the miracles. Some religionists are surprised when pressure is exerted to learn that their own preachers deny the inspiration of the Bible.



2 Pet. 1:20,21 - "but know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God."



I Thess. 2:13 - "and for this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received from us the Word of God's message you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe."



We make no apology for believing that the inspired writers gave us what God intended them to write. We know that the apostles believed that the words they were writing came from God. This is one of the basic beliefs of the church of Christ. However... there are other groups who do believe the Bible, so we are not "the only ones." Evolution and humanism are being opposed by conservative preachers in some denominations. Some are trying to oust the modernists from their theological schools and are leading fights in the creation/evolution battles, so this point alone is not what makes us different.



2) We are not the only ones who recognize distinctions between the Old Testament and the New Testament. What is that distinction?



A. Jeremiah 31:31-34

31* "Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,

32* not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them," declares the LORD.

33* "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

34* "They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the LORD, "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."



- God promised a new covenant. The New Testament reveals that it has come, John 1:17 - "For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ."



B. Hebrews 8:7-13; 9:15-17 Heb. 8:7ff direct quote from Jer. 31:31ff 7* For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.

8* For finding fault with them, He says, "BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH;

9* NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM, SAYS THE LORD.

10* "FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.

11* "AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN, AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, 'KNOW THE LORD,' FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.

12* "FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE."

13* When He said, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.



Romans 15:4 - "for whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."



We must still study the O.T. and learn from its examples but we look to Christ in the New Testament for Salvation.



Hebrews 1:1,2

1* God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2* in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.



Acts 4:12 - "and there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved."



We are not "the only ones" who understand this, however. Look at the percentage of other religious groups who meet on the first day of the week rather than the Sabbath day for worship and who reject animal sacrifices, polygamy, incense, Passover, etc. There are some others who apparently have believed Col. 2:14 which says, "Having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of degrees against us and which was hostile to us; And he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross."



3) We are not the only ones who worship without the use of instruments of music. True, this does make us different. But there is a basic reason for it, every passage in the New Testament referring to church music identifies it as a capella, which is a Latin term meaning, "as in church." In all the Bible there are only nine verses that speak about church music.



Matt. 26:30 - After the institution of the Lords Supper, the disciples sang a hymn.

Mark 14:26 - Parallel to Mt. 26:30

Acts 16:25 - Paul and Silas in prison were singing

Romans 15:9 - Mentions singing

I Cor. 14:15 - The early church was to sing with the Spirit

Eph. 5:19 - "singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord."

Col. 3:16 - "teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

Heb. 2:12 - Mentions singing in the midst of the congregation.

James 5:13 - "Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises."



The reason we do not use instruments of music in our worship is, they were not used by the apostles, they were not used by the New Testament church, they were not used by the church for several hundred years after the church was established.



To make such an addition is to presume what God desires, and man has no right to presume what God desires, he must obey what he has revealed. The fact that instruments were available, but were left out of the New Testament worship holds a significance often overlooked. Old Testament sacrifices and worship involved outward ceremony that became routine. It ceased to be from the heart. A child of God was such by birth, not conviction. He had to be taught who God was. Their worship opportunities became chores and duties that they did not put themselves into (Malachi 1:7-14). Worship became a burden to them. As a Christian, one learns of God and loves him before becoming his child (see again Jeremiah 31:31ff), his worship is to be from the heart, his life is a sacrifice, and instead of some mechanical substitute, the Christian, by singing, gives of himself in worship. However... we are not the only ones who reject the instrument. Throughout history there have been groups that have realized the importance of worship according to the New Testament design, rather than according to the traditions of men.



4) We are not the only ones who include in worship the Lord's Supper on a weekly basis. WHY DO WE DO THIS?



Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper and placed it in the church for regular observance; Paul said in I Cor. 11 that he delivered to them what he had received of the Lord so that "as often" as they observed it, they could show his death until he comes again. As a memorial the Lord's Supper has beauty and purpose. It provides an opening to teach small children as they grow up. Some say that the Lord's supper was not taken on a weekly basis by the church in the N.T. but Scriptures reveal that it was, Acts 20:7 - "and on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread..." The terminology we use identifies frequency. If I say my birthday is March 1st, you do not ask, "Which March 1st?" March 1st pinpoints it as a yearly event since each year has a March 1st. If your boss were to tell you that you were to be paid on the 1st & 15th, you would not say "which month?" Each week has a first day, and it was known that the disciples came together on that day to break bread. However... there are other religious groups that observe something which they regard as the Lord's Supper on a weekly basis, so at least, on this point, we are not the only ones.



5) We are not the only ones who teach and practice the matter of baptism as we do. We stress that baptism should be immersion because that's the definition of the original Greek word, and passages like:



Matthew 3:16 - "and after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove."

Acts 8:36-40 - this passage shows that baptism is to be by immersion.

Romans 6:3-5 (READ) - this passage shows that baptism is to be by immersion.

Col. 2:12 - "Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with him through faith in the working of God..."



However... we all know of some other religious groups that also teach that baptism is by immersion rather than sprinkling or pouring. We teach that baptism should be "for the forgiveness of sins (or the remission of sins) because of passages like:



Acts 2:38 - "for the forgiveness of sins" (little Greek word used here "ace" (for), always prospective in application, this shows the purpose of Baptism). Means "in order to receive."



Mark 16:15,16 - "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned."

Acts 22:16 "arise and be baptized and wash away your sins."

Gal. 3:26,27 - "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."

I Pet. 3:21 - "and corresponding to that, baptism now saves you... "



Baptism is essential to salvation, as the Bible clearly demonstrates... but there are some other religious groups who teach and practice baptism as essential for salvation, so we are not "the only ones" who at least include it as a command from God that stands between the accountable sinner and salvation.



6) To save time, let me illustrate this matter further, but more rapidly.



We stress a congregational type of church Government. Christ, not Peter is the head of the church



Col.1:18 "He is also the Head of the Body the church"

Eph. 1:22,23 "He gave him to be head over all things, to the church, which is his body..."

Phil. 1:1,2 - there Paul addresses the "deacons and elders.")

However... there are many others who do not accept Peter as having been the head of the church. So we are not the only ones who follow the kind of government given to us by God in the Scriptures.



7) We stress that the Bible makes use of the name "Christian," and terms such as "church of God," "church of Christ." These are the Scriptural names:



Acts 11:26 - "the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch."

Acts 20:28 - the "church of God" is mentioned

Romans 16:16 - "church of Christ"



However, we must admit that we are not the only ones who use these Biblical terms to identify the church.



8) We stress that the Bible teaches godliness, holiness, and abstinence from the world.



Titus 2:11-12 - "for the grace of God has appeared, instructing us to deny ... .

Heb. 12:14 - "pursue peace, and the sanctification without which no one will see God."

I Tim. 4:12 - "prove yourself to be an example... "

I Thess. 5:22 - "abstain from every form of evil..."



But we are not the only ones who teach this, and to be honest, we must admit that there may be some who show more dedication to the goal than many of our own!



9) We stress the importance of benevolent work and evangelistic work to relieve human suffering and share the gospel with the lost.



Gal. 6:10 - "so then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of Faith."

I Tim. 5:16 - exhorts us to help dependent widows

Acts 8:4 - people preached even when they were prosecuted.

Mark 16:15,16 - We are to go into all the world.



But... we must admit that there are other religious groups who are active in benevolent work, and there are many who may be supporting missionaries to preach their doctrine with a greater per capita level of giving than we have. We would not endorse the plan of salvation being taught by all other groups, but we do note that they believe in evangelism to teach what they do believe.



1) We are not the only ones who respect the Bible as God's Book.

2) We are not the only ones who recognize distinctions between the Old Testament and the New Testament.

3) We are not the only ones who worship without the use of instruments of music.

4) We are not the only ones who include in worship the Lord's Supper on a weekly basis.

5) We are not the only ones who teach and practice baptism by immersion for the remission of sins.

6) We are not the only ones who believe that the New Testament teaches a congregational type of church Government.

7) We are not the only ones who stress that the Bible makes use of the name "Christian."

8) We are not the only ones who stress that the Bible teaches godliness, holiness, and abstinence from the world.

9) We are not the only ones who stress the importance of benevolent work and evangelistic work to relieve human suffering and share the gospel with the lost.



These nine examples are enough to illustrate the point: We are not "the only ones" involved in these key points of practice identified in the Scriptures.



Is there any sense in which the church of Christ is different? Any sense in which it is truly "the only one?" Even though in each case we have studied there are some other religious groups who teach and practice the same basic things we have studied,



THERE IS ONE BIG DIFFERENCE; IT IS ONLY IN THE CHURCH OF CHRIST THAT ONE MAY BELIEVE AND PRACTICE ALL OF THESE THINGS AT THE SAME TIME! Let me illustrate. You may find that church "A" believes in baptism by immersion, but does not baptize for the remission of sins; church "B" may baptize for the remission of sins, but does not worship without adding instruments; church "C" may wear a Scriptural name, but does not take the Lord's Supper each week, and so on.



Other churches may have a mixture of one or two of these cardinal matters of faith and practice, but omit the rest. You may find a dozen groups practicing tid-bits of truth, but who do you find besides the church of Christ making the plea that we get back to the Bible on all points of doctrine at the same time?



The plea of the restoration movement is that we be Christians, and Christians only, that we speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible is silent, that we return completely to the New Testament for our authority in matters of faith and practice. That we speak the Truth, and nothing but the Truth (John 17:17). We do not apologize for saying, "We must follow God and not Man." Our plea to all is that we all unite under the unity of the Scriptures. When this is done, human traditions will fade into insignificance. This material is taken from a number of sources.

Answer 9

COME AND SEE!



The above statement, “Come and see” (Jno. 1:39), was made by our Lord in response to a question directed to him by two of John’s disciples. The two accepted the Lord’s invitation to “Come and see” and as a result they left John to follow Jesus!



The church of Christ in this community urges you to “Come and see” whether or not this congregation is identical to the “churches of Christ” (Rom. 16:16) of Paul’s day in name, membership, worship, unity, organization, practice and mission. Following the New Testament completely is that which makes the true church of Christ.



The Lord added the saved to the church that Christ built. (Acts 2:38-41, 47.) There was no other church in existence. The same process of obedience that saved them caused the Lord to add them to His church. (Acts 2:47)



Not until hundreds of years later was there a single denomination for one to join! Now there are hundreds of man-made churches but there is no reason to join any of them! Why not be just a Christian? A member of the Lord’s church? (Mt. 16:18; Acts 2:47; Rom. 16:16; Acts 26:28; I Pet. 4:16.)







THE CHURCH OF CHRIST WAS FOUNDED BY CHRIST



Christ promised to build but one church, when he said: “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:18.) Paul tells us that Christ died for but one church: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” (Eph. 5:25.) The words “the church” mean but one. The pronoun “it” can refer to but one. So Christ loved one church; he died for one church; he built one church. Therefore he is the owner of but one church. The plural form “churches” is never used in the New Testament except in reference to a number of local congregations in a certain section of the country, as “The churches of Christ salute you.” (Rom. 16:16.) “The churches of Judea.” (Gal. 1:22.)





THE CHURCH OS CHRIST WAS FOUNDED IN JERUSALEM





It was founded in Jerusalem, on Pentecost, the first one after the resurrection of Christ. This is shown by a number of things. A short time before our Lord died he put the origin of the church in the future when he said: “Upon this rock I will build my church.” (Matt. 16:18.) Students of language know that “will build” is future tense of the verb and shows that the church had not been built when Jesus made this statement. However, beginning with this Pentecost the church was always referred to as present. It was on that day that “there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41.) “and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:47.) Never after Pentecost of Acts 2 was it referred to as something to be built. This proves that the church of Christ was established on Pentecost day of the second chapter of Acts. In fact, Peter declares that this was the beginning. (Acts 11:15.)







CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST



Christ is the head of it – the sole head. Paul says: “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.” (Eph. 1:22, 23.) “And he is the head of the body, the church.” (Col. 1:18.) These passages make it clear that when the New Testament speaks of the body of Christ, reference is not made to his physical but to his spiritual body, which is his church. Observe please: (1) Christ is the head of his church. (Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23.) (2) All who are in Christ are in his body. (Gal. 3:27; Col. 3:15.) (3) All Christians are in Christ. (Rom. 6:3; II Cor. 5:17.) (4) Therefore, all Christians are in Christ’s church. Jesus came into the world to establish one, and only one institution through which to save mankind. (Eph. 3:10, 11, 21.)





THE CHURCH OF CHRIST HAS NO GUIDE BOOK BUT THE BIBLE



The church of Christ refuses to accept any human creed in religion. We definitely refuse any uninspired man’s statement, or system of statements, as our rule in religion. Articles of Religion, Confessions of Faith, Disciplines, Church Manuals and Creeds formulated by men are rejected. The word of God – and the word of God alone – we accept as our standard. The following scriptures show this to be the only safe course: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (II Tim. 3:16, 17.) Again Peter says: “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” (II Pet. 1:3.) The same apostle said: “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God: If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: That God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever Amen.” (I Pet. 4:11.) Therefore we implore all to go back to the Bible. Remember the Bible is right!



The church of Christ has no creed but the Christ, the son of God. It pleads for the unity of all believers in Christ on the simple plan of speaking where the Bible speaks and by remaining silent where it is silent, by wearing Bible names and by doing Bible things in Bible ways. It seeks to obey the divine injunction given by Paul in I Cor. 1:10: “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” Our aim is to fulfill the Lord’s prayer for unity as stated in John 17:21. We seek to plant New Testament churches throughout the world after the New Testament pattern.





TO BE ADDED TO THE CHURCH OF CHRIST ONE MUST COMPLY WITH GOSPEL REQUIREMENTS WHICH ARE:



Belief in Christ (Acts 16:31.) Repentance of sins (Acts 17:30.) Confession of faith in Christ (Acts 8:36, 37.) And baptism (Acts 2:38, 41, 47; Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16.) Peter declared, “Baptism doth also now save us.” (I Pet. 3:21.) We are saved by the blood of Christ which was shed in the death of Christ but no accountable person ever contacts that blood until he is baptized into his death. (Rom. 6:3.) Salvation is in Christ, (II Tim. 2:10) but one cannot get into Christ except by baptism. (Gal. 3:27.)





THE WORSHIP OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS SCRIPTURAL



The items of worship are: Teaching (Acts 2:42; II Tim. 2:2.) Praying (Acts 2:42) and giving (I Cor. 16:1, 2.) Giving is an act of worship that must be done on a certain day of the week. As the original language clearly states, it was done on the first day of every week. Raffling contests and other such methods of raising money for the church were not practiced by the congregations under the direction of inspired men of the first century, and those who do such things today are not identical with congregations of the first century. Partaking of the Lord’s supper is another act of worship. (I Cor. 11:23-29.) Does the New Testament specify a certain day for the observance of the Lord’s supper? Yes! The day is clearly pointed out in Acts 20:7 The only day anyone can partake of the Lord’s supper with the Lord’s approval is the first day of the week! A certain day of a certain month is never mentioned in connection with it. SO it cannot be a yearly service. Neither is a certain day of the month mentioned. It cannot, therefore, be a monthly service. Singing is another act of worship. (Eph. 5:19; Heb. 2:12.) We are not just commanded to have music, but rather we are commanded to have a certain kind of music, that is Singing. In Hebrews 2:12 we are told, “In the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.” To add instrumental music to the singing is to go beyond Christ’s doctrine. (II John 9-11.) Any church that employs mechanical instruments in its worship is not identical with the New Testament church. But the true church of Christ limits its music to singing just as the church of the first century. The five acts of worship discussed above were the only acts of worship that the early church practiced. We search in vain for any other acts of worship enjoined upon Christians today.



DOES HONESTY MAKE ERROR TRUTH?





Since early childhood I have heard people say that it does not make any difference what we believe, that if we are honest and sincere about it, God will save us anyway. Have you ever made such a statement? Most likely you have heard your preacher say the same thing. If he has, ask him for the verse in the Bible. You may have made this kind of statement because you have heard preachers make it, and naturally you thought it must be so. But if your preacher has been making it, he must have some reason for it since he claims to be following and teaching the Bible. He should make such statements providing the Bible says so. And if the Bible does say so, he will know where to find it. So ask him to give you the book, chapter, and verse.



Notice this scripture from II Thess. 2:11-12: “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” This indeed is a very plain statement. It positively says that some would “believe a lie.” Certainly there is a vast difference between believing a lie and believing the truth. The truth is recorded in the word of God. If it is not taught in the word of God, it must be a lie.



Does it make any difference which of these one believes? The general idea is that it does not matter, provided one is sincere. Of course, he could not believe anything unless he is sincere. A person might pretend to believe a thing and be insincere about it. But if he actually believes it, he must be sincere. So the Bible speaks of men who are sincere, for it actually says they will “believe a lie.” But what of their sincerity? Will that atone for their mistake? Will God save them anyway, just because they are honest about it? Is that what the Bible said? No, that is not the way it reads at all.



Observe verse 12 again: “That they all might be damned who believed not the truth.” Notice the word “damned.” This means the very opposite of “saved.” Yet we are told that certain men would be damned. But who were to be damned? All those who believed a lie or believed not the truth. It does make quite a difference what a person believes! For if one is to be saved, he must believe the truth. To believe something else will result in damnation – regardless of how sincere a person might be.



In II Timothy 2:5 we read this: “And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” When people say it makes no difference what we believe, they often add: “We are all striving for the same place anyway.” And evidently this is true. We are striving to reach heaven at last. But is striving the only thing that is necessary in order to reach that glorious reward? This is all that would be necessary if it makes no difference what we believe.



The Bible continues to tell us that striving alone is not sufficient – that a man may strive and still not be crowned, except he strive lawfully. The crowning referred to is the eternal reward in heaven – the crown of glory that fadeth not away. But yet a man may strive and still fail to receive the crown. Why? Because he may not strive lawfully. No person can reach that crown unless he strives lawfully! What does it mean to strive lawfully? It means to strive according to the law of the Lord. So if we strive contrary to that law we will not be crowned, regardless of how sincere we may be.



The law of the Lord is revealed in the New Testament. If we strive to go to heaven by some other way, we are not striving lawfully, and will not reach the destination we desire. These truths in the Bible clearly indicate that it does make a difference what a person believes and practices in religion.



SINNERS – NOT INSTRUCTED TO – “PRAY THROUGH”





With the Bible as our rule of faith and practice, containing as it does, the revelation of God’s will to us, we should be very anxious to do just the things it authorizes. This is especially true since we are saved from our past sins and become Christians only if we obey the truth. (Jno. 8:32; Jno. 17:17.) Also we are to be judged by the word of the Lord. (Jno. 12:48.) Where does the Bible say, “that inspired men ever invited alien sinners, to the altar to pray for salvation?”



In Acts 22:16, we read of an alien sinner, engaged in prayer when the Lord sent a preacher to tell him what to do. Saul, who had been one of the worst enemies Christianity ever had, became convinced of the error of his way. He asked the Lord what he would have him to do. (Acts 9:6.) Jesus told him to go to Damascus and there he would be told what he must do. (Acts 9:6.) So he went to the city and waited for – that – information. Ananias, a gospel preacher, was sent to tell him what to do. When Ananias arrived he found Saul, the sinner, engaged in prayer. Many modern preachers would have told Saul to “pray on until you pray to pardon.” Did Ananias tell Saul to pray on? He did not! However, he told Saul exactly what God wanted him to do! He stopped Saul from praying and said: “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16.) To “Arise,” means “to get up.” So Ananias told Saul to get up from his praying and do something else – to be baptized and wash away his sins. Has it ever occurred to you that the average preacher of our day would not tell an alien sinner what Ananias told Saul to do? That is, to “Arise,” and to “be baptized and wash away thy sins.” When one is thus baptized for the remission of his sins (Acts 2:38), he is obediently “calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16; Mt. 7:21; Lk. 6:46.)





THE LORD’S CHURCH OF ABSOLUTE IMPORTANCE



We place value upon a thing by what is paid for it. It is obvious that God places the highest value upon the church since he was willing to give his only begotten Son for it. (Jno. 3:16; Eph. 5:25.) Christ not only loved the church enough to die for it (Eph. 5:25), but his church is the only institution where the lost can find salvation. (Acts 2:47; Eph. 5:23.)



We are dedicated to the restoration of New Testament Christianity. Won’t you lend your influence to this worthy goal? We are neither Catholic nor Protestant. We are simply Christians. (Acts 26:28; I Pet. 4:16.) Isn’t this sufficient?



We regard the Bible as the final word. We strive to allow a visitor to be a stranger but once. Please “Come and see” and “Go and tell” others!